Democratic Alliance-led coalition breaks down in Nelson Mandela Bay

The Patriotic Alliance, led by Gayton McKenzie, has turned against the Democratic Alliance.

South African main opposition party Democratic Alliance Port Elizabeth mayor Athol Trollip addresses his supporters as they demonstrate in front of the city hall at a rally in his support on the eve of a motion of no confidence on March 28, 2018 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. (MICHAEL SHEEHAN/AFP/Getty Images)

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is once again fighting for control in the unsteady Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) municipality.

The coalition-based local government has been thrown into jeopardy, with minority parties seeking to oust the DA and mayor Athol Trollip.

According to a report by News24, a high-level delegation of senior members from the City’s opposition parties met on Thursday to discuss removing the DA-led coalition from power.

Patriotic Alliance playmakers

Playmakers, the Patriotic Alliance (PA,) have reportedly switched sides once more, and are committed to dissolving the current coalition. Party leader, Gayton McKenzie, who was in attendance at Thursday’s late-night conference, confirmed that he had retracted his support from the DA.

These parties combined have the power to topple the DA-led coalition, as they have the a 61-seat majority in the 120-seat council.

Another motion of no confidence in Trollip

According to sources close to the matter, the conference of minor political parties is determined to oppose the Democratic Alliance and table a motion of no-confidence in Trollip.

Meanwhile, Trollip remained tight-lipped on the matter, refusing to comment on the meeting, only saying:

“We have an electoral mandate, which we will respect and honour till the last second. We will not go without a fight.”

This isn’t the first time Trollip’s been in trouble with his political partners either.

In April, the mayor successfully rebuffed a motion of no confidence by securing, ironically, support from the PA. Now it seems the tables have turned in favour of the opposition parties.

In May, a group of five parties, spearheaded by the Economic Freedom Fighters, initially filed a motion of no confidence in the mayor, but later rescinded their position.

PA councillor, Marlon Daniels, confirmed that he had lost faith in the DA, and that they would bring about political change in NMB, saying:

“Those who say we are bringing the ANC in by the back door are mistaken. We are going to form a minority-party-led government. The DA have had their chance, and the ANC have had their chance. Now it’s our turn.”